Laci Peterson family seeks items from home

The Fresno Bee ^ | Published Thursday, May 29, 2003, 4:15 AM | John Cote'

[runningbear]

Laci Peterson family seeks items from home

Laci Peterson family seeks items from home
Relatives hire lawyers to retrieve wedding dress, baby crib, other personal belongings.

By John Coté
The Modesto Bee

(Published Thursday, May 29, 2003, 4:15 AM)

MODESTO -- Laci Peterson's family has hired attorneys in an attempt to retrieve her wedding dress, a baby crib and other personal items from her Modesto home, according to a statement released Wednesday.

In the murder case against her husband, court documents made available Wednesday assert the defense team's contention that investigators violated the law by monitoring privileged communications and that Deputy District Attorney Rick Distaso "misled" defense attorneys and the judge about it. Scott Peterson, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in the deaths of his 27-year-old wife and their unborn son, Conner.

Scott Peterson's parents and his attorney have prevented his wife's family from entering the couple's Covena Avenue home and retrieving personal items, according to the statement from attorneys Adam J. Stewart and Albert G. Clark.

The statement came with a 22-point list of items that family members want, including Laci's diplomas and journals, and a watering can that says "Laci's Garden." But family members said that being inside the home that Laci decorated and lived in was more important than retrieving personal items.

According to the statement, lead defense attorney Mark Geragos wrote a letter in response to the request for access. The Laci Peterson family attorneys, in their statement, say that Geragos said it would be "unthinkable to allow anything to be moved or disposed of" until his team had completed its investigation.

Meanwhile, the newly available court documents show that defense attorneys have requested a closed hearing to question prosecutors about wiretaps used to intercept calls between Scott Peterson and his defense team.

The defense drafted the documents before Superior Court Judge Al Girolami on Tuesday ordered prosecutors to turn over "all calls intercepted involving defense counsel or the defense investigator." Also, the defense has asked for a transcript of a Jan. 17 wiretap discussion among Judge Wray Ladine, prosecutors and investigators, the documents reveal.

Defense attorneys have a Friday deadline to file a motion on the wiretap issue.

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Laci Peterson's Family Hires Lawyers to Collect Mementos

Laci Peterson's Family Hires Lawyers to Collect Mementos

MODESTO — A Modesto law firm says it has been hired to help Laci Peterson's family visit their daughter's house and collect her wedding dress, jewelry and other mementos.

Lawyers Adam Stewart and Albert Clark say they were hired after Scott Peterson's family prevented his in-laws from entering the house the couple shared before Laci Peterson vanished just before Christmas.

Scott Peterson has pleaded innocent to murdering his wife and unborn son. The remains of the 27-year-old pregnant substitute teacher and the infant they planned to name Conner were found on the shore of San Francisco Bay last month.

Defense lawyer Mark Geragos says he has worked out an agreement to let Laci Peterson's family visit the house and remove her journals, a food processor and a watering can that said "Laci's Garden."

Copyright © 2003 KABC-TV and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Last Updated: May 28, 2003

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DEFENSE LAWYER TO GET PETERSON PHONE LOGS

DEFENSE LAWYER TO GET PETERSON PHONE LOGS

(05-27-2003) - The judge overseeing the murder case of Scott Peterson ordered Tuesday that police records of telephone calls made between Peterson and his lawyer and investigator be turned over to his new defense attorney.

Prosecutors had not contested the release of the conversations, which they said they had not heard or seen and had ordered sealed when they realized police investigators had been listening to or recording calls.

At least two of the 69 calls between Peterson and Modesto attorney Kirk McAllister were included in the widespread monitoring that also taped Peterson's calls with reporters. Police also listened in on a call between Peterson and a private investigator.

Peterson's new attorney, Mark Geragos, said he expected to receive the police records Tuesday afternoon.

"Once we see exactly what was taped, we'll file the appropriate motions," the Los Angeles attorney said.

Peterson, 30, is accused of killing his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and unborn son, Conner, last Dec. 23 or 24. Stanislaus County prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.

Peterson, arrested April 18, maintains his innocence, saying he last saw his wife when he left for a Christmas Eve fishing trip.

Stanislaus County prosecutors this month notified McAllister, private investigator Gary Ermoian and 64 other people that their conversations were intercepted from Jan. 10 to Feb. 4 under a court-ordered wiretap to gather evidence in the Peterson investigation.

Police are not supposed to listen to talks between attorneys and their clients, which are considered privileged conversations. McAllister said earlier this year he was skeptical of claims that police recording equipment was turned off when it became clear that Peterson was talking with his lawyer.

But John Goold, a chief deputy district attorney for Stanislaus County, told reporters Tuesday that prosecutors have never seen or heard anything from the Peterson-McAllister calls monitored by police.

"Our requirement is to not listen in on privileged phone calls," Goold said.

Also Tuesday, Judge Al Girolami said he was also considering a gag order on lawyers in the case to prevent leaks fueling news stories, and indicated he would wait until July to decide whether to unseal court records reporters are seeking.

Girolami said he would rule by the end of the week whether to unseal police reports and arrest warrants, as well as autopsy results of Laci Peterson and her unborn son.

But the Modesto judge told Charity Kenyon, a Sacramento lawyer representing The Modesto Bee and four other California newspapers, that he would most likely order that the documents remain impounded until a July 15 preliminary hearing, held to determine whether Peterson should go to trial.

Girolami wondered aloud, given the great amount of publicity in the case, whether 12 fair jurors could be found anywhere in California if the information was unsealed.

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Another Peterson trial

Nurse becomes seventh member of Peterson jury

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[Queen Jadis]

Nancy Grace was great (as always) on LKL tonight. Larry is so rude to her that sometimes I wish I could reach into the TV and shake him.

So true, I have noticed this for weeks and I am getting sick of it. Did you hear tonight, when a caller said "Nancy you are so wonderful..." she was cut mid sentance (after the word wonderful) by Larry King who said "Make it quick we only have a minute."

[Devil_Anse]

"The French they are a peculiar race,
They fight with their feet,
*** **** **** ***** ****."

That's right, the whole line has to be asterisked, lol!

Hey, have your ears been burning? Remember the other day when you mentioned about the neighbor who'd offered to walk the dog for Scott? And how she was said to have gotten a little tipsy, and broke into the house and tried on Laci's wedding gown? Well, we were looking around trying to find the original story on that, and finally Velveeta showed up and handed a copy of it to us!

In the midst of it, I mentioned "QJ told me it was the neighbor." There was this poor poster here who kept saying, "well, when is this QJ going to come back and tell us about this story?" It was hilarious! The poster was starting to think QJ was an imaginary friend or something!

When I finally read the tabloid account of the neighbor, I wanted to tell you that I thought this neighbor needs to be seen by a psychiatrist! She sounds like one weird bird. Then--pure speculation here--we started wondering if maybe this neighbor was another of Scott's women! LOL!

[joyce11111]

I'm ready to start trashing Dr Michael Baden. He's obviously angling for a stint as a paid witness for Scott.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have wondered the same...he wants on this case real bad...for snotty's side.

[Queen Jadis]

Larry is the most sickening shill of all. IMO, he just lives to mingle with people who earned their fame through actually doing something (other than having a show like his.) He is also the worst interviewer of all time.

Right you are. My husband and I love to imitate his voice. We just sort of do this gravely "old man" growl without enunciating any words. We crack each other up! So yes, he is "the worst interviewer of all time"...precisely bc imitating him best involves making "noises" instead of words.

[Howlin]

That simpering pretty face of his that spews ridiculity with an air of arrogance, reminds me very much of Sidney Blumenthal. Slimey and although Pixie Pixley probably thinks every woman finds him attractive, I find him a tad on the girlie side for my taste.

Believe it or not, you took the words right out of my mouth. :-)

[Devil_Anse]

If those girlfriends are really out there, yes, I'd think the prosecution told them that if Scott contacted them, they ought to then call the prosecutor's office. IMO, Amber and any other girlfriends who have any knowledge of Scott's actions around December or after that, have good reason to be afraid. Well, not quite so much reason, now that he's in jail!

If Scott is really still trying to get to Amber, I think he is setting himself up for a charge of obstruction of justice. I would assume McAlister had already warned him about that, but this idiot seems to never take his lawyer's advice. Just another one who runs to get a lawyer, then doesn't use the lawyer.

[Devil_Anse]

Somehow I think that if Dennis had known for sure that Scott was beating or otherwise seriously abusing his daughter, ol' Dennis would have gone over there and made Scott stop! Dennis has said he never really found Scott to be as great as some others made him out to be.

[Queen Jadis]

Yes I was reading some of those posts this morning...Unfortunately I got caught in the Frey fray of the plethora of posts, and never got a chance to respond! ;)

I think it is completely plausible that she may have been intimately involved with wee peterson. Do you love the MPD putting her up to calling wee pee and asking him to "come on down" and take a lie detector test?

[Devil_Anse]

He drives me crazy b/c if ever (solely by happenstance, I assure you) a guest of his starts to get into something factual, or something new, Larry invariably stops the guest with some idiotic question such as "how did that make you feel?"

[Devil_Anse]

Even better, I wondered if she thought of that one herself! She sounds just odd enough to think of such a thing. What is amazing is how forgiving Scott appears to be of the whole episode. Isn't pressing charges or anything. Hmmm. Maybe he feels a bit defensive lately?

And it wouldn't surprise me if maybe she tried the dress on b/c he said something like, "It's up for sale, if you know anyone who wants it!"

[Queen Jadis]

yes just like kleenex! the scotch brand of tape has tartan on the packaging.

[Queen Jadis]

He drives me crazy b/c if ever (solely by happenstance, I assure you) a guest of his starts to get into something factual, or something new, Larry invariably stops the guest with some idiotic question such as "how did that make you feel?"

so wrong...so very wrong for an old geezer in suspenders!

[Devil_Anse]

The thing that is both hilarious and repugnant--at the same time, sort of like watching one dog jump another--is when Larry has a really attractive young woman as his interviewee. Usually his tongue is hanging out so far, it is in danger of getting stepped on.

[runningbear]

LOL....lingo mingo... I got it... heehee.....

[runningbear]

sometimes, things just get out of hand.... ;o)

[runningbear]

in some of the court docs, seems scaughty relies on mommy to pay for his deeds...